Man accused of breaking hotel window during feud with his girlfriend

An Alachua man was arrested Monday morning after police say he punched a hotel window and ignored police commands.

By Monivette CordeiroStaff writer

An Alachua man was arrested Monday morning after police say he punched a hotel window and ignored police commands.

Alachua Police said they went to the Econo Lodge on U.S. 441 where Phillip Chance, 50, of 9715 NW 143rd St., and his girlfriend were staying. Officers saw a broken window in the room Chance was staying in, the police report said.

Chance’s girlfriend opened the door to the room and was holding a broken cellphone in her hand. They say she was visibly upset. She told police that she and Chance had argued, and that Chance had told her she could not leave. He stood by the door and then moved away, according to her statement in the report.

After more arguing, Chance threw items at her, but they didn’t hit her, and he began to “get in her face,” the report stated.

She said she took out her cellphone and told Chance that she was calling police, so he broke the phone. She also said she told him he needed to leave because she was paying for the room, so he packed his things and left with a laundry basket, the report said.

He returned later and asked her to let him in. She refused, so he punched the hotel window, breaking it, and then left again, police said.

He returned to the hotel while officers were still interviewing his girlfriend and witnesses, but he would not listen to police officers’ commands. He finally complied after officers told him they would use a Taser on him if he didn’t, the report said.

Chance was charged with obstructing justice, property damage and resisting an officer, according to the report. As of Monday, he was being held at the Alachua County jail on $35,000 bond.